Hello hello! This will be my third year riding Bos/treal (and second time riding to Montreal!), and I need your help to get there! The easy description of Bos/treal is that it is a weeklong bike tour and fundraiser for the Boston Cyclists Union in which empowered advocates ride all the way from Boston City Hall to Montreal; however, I’d say that Bos/treal is much more than that. In the months preceding the ride, we train each weekend, riding hundreds of miles to prepare our bodies and minds for 5 days of riding. As many know, Bos/treal has changed my life well beyond the scope of the week-long trip - raising my confidence in long distance biking, introducing me to many amazing bike advocates, and pushing me in ways I didn’t think possible. I feel so grateful to be able to do this life-changing ride for a third time - both grateful to my bike and body for getting me there, but thankful for the many many people who donated in the past years. I’m not able to fully describe how much biking means to me… as a form of community, a form of transportation, a form of exercise. However, as perfect as I’d argue the bicycle is, biking in Boston is far from perfect. The limited bicycle networks are discontiguous, and it is rare to find a path from one point to another where there is no dangerous vehicle interaction. This is where the BCU comes in. They are doing the hard work, campaigning for safer streets throughout Boston and its surrounding communities. The BCU’s work has touched many points in my commutes and neighborhoods over the past years, and I can say without a doubt that they have made Boston a safer place to walk and bike. Bos/treal is the BCU’s biggest fundraiser. Your donation to my ride goes directly to the BCU to allow them to continue fighting the good fight in this city that I love so much. Thank you, as always, for your support!